New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-28
IN EXTRA SESSION pROBdBIE


Signs indicate that the Administration will
call an extra session in October. Journals
which serve as its organs have articles, appar-
entity by concert or in compliance with official
requests, setting forth soIemny reasons which
are held to render an extra session necessary.
A large surplus exists the Treasury cannot
get md of it without purchasing bonds at a
high premium or resorting to measures Of
doubtful legality; there is doubt whether a
reduction of taxes can be promptly effected at
the regular session. The argument is weak
Just here. There is no more reason to suppose
that Congress can deal wisely in October and
November than in December and January.
The strife of factions within the Democratic
party will embaTass action alike at either time
Mr.. Carlisle has graciouSly informed the public
that a large reduction Of duties will Gun
doubleday be made at the next session. but it
has yet to be shown that he and Mr. Randall
can agree on any policy. Were there no fight
OF factions in the Democratic ranks, states
manhke decision could easily be reached
competent statesman would start with the
consideration that the people have decided un-
mstakably against abandonment or weakening
of the protective policy. He would realize
that, after the industries of the Nation have
for twenty-five years been adjusted to that
policy, its Impairment must cause disaster He
would begin with the principle that the ncedful
reduction of revenue must in some way be
made without subiccting industries to greater
foreign competition. Next he would consider
that the protective policy, if to I've continued al
ALL should be made effective. Except from
motives Of unpatiiOtic and unreasonable par.
tisanShip there is no sense in breaking down
or weakening policy which the country must
retain, and as little in keeping open leaks
which experience has brought TO light or
which past errors have made. 10y which the
effectiveness of that policy is impaired Hence
a statesman would say, the wool duties have
been so botchcd by free trade folly that they
yield the country S5,12G,1OS yearly revenue
1t would lie better, since such duties are
vital part of a policy which cannot be aban-
doned TO make them yield great deal less by
raising them. Putting up the duties would
put down the revenue and stop hole punched
in the protective system which lessons It's value
to the country. So of the duties on. woollcns
which were reduced in 1888 so that the manu-
facturc is visibly embarrassed by actual and
threatened competition. Last year $50. 679.-
4S7 was received from duties on woollcn cloth
clothing, dress goods. knit goods, yarns
and "worstcd manufactures not otherwise
provided for ard it would he better. since
these duties must be retained at all, 20 make
them more effective so that they shall yield
less revenue
In the same spirit a statesman would rea.on
that the low duty on iron orc and pig and
scrap iron, yielding $2.571. $50 last year, only
burdencd the people unnecessarily without Sc
curing protection for mines and furnaces in
Atlantic States The duty on tin plates, orig
inally made low ty palpahlc blundcr Of Sec
rotary Fcsscndcn. now yields Sj,7lO 9Si and
fails to promote the manufacture. If it were
higher, this country would make its own tin
plates, and the new iron works Of the South
would find largely increased market. SO Of
the duty on wire rods, yielding $i,Gj1,9iS
last year In the same spirit the ineffective
duties on cotton embroidcrics, hose and laceS
yielding $6.S5S,577, would be examined
and the duties on manufactures of fax and
hemp, yielding 81. 4OG O9O aud the duties ON
glassware, yielding So 694. 923 and the duties
on law flax and hemp and their substitutes
yielding $1,S4l 1876 A clcar-hcaded states
man, adjusting the national policy to the
ascertained will Of the people, could easily cut
off $5OOOOOOO Of revenue not harming but
greatly helping the reviving industries Of all
sections.
That is exactly what the fighting factions
Of the Democratic party will not do The
chances are that Republican members Of Con
gress will be forced in the end to choose be-
tween a failure Of all legislation to reduce the
revenue, and an abolition Of duties in whole
or in part on tobaccos, liquors and sugars
If the Democratic party forces that issue, it
may have occasion to regret it in the next
Presidential campaign